University holds on to win Round 1 in city rivalry

IRVINE - It started out kind of dull, but it was quite a finish in the first of two meetings this season between University and Irvine.

The Trojans held off a second-half comeback by the Vaqueros to win, 14-13, in a nonleague game in the season opener for both teams Friday night at Irvine High in front of a capacity crowd of 3,500.

The crosstown rivals, who were tied, 0-0, at halftime, will meet again in a Pacific Coast League game on the final week of the season.

Judging from Friday’s game, it could be a thriller to the end, too.

“That was fun, I enjoyed every minute of it even when they were getting to us a little bit,” Irvine coach Terry Henigan said.

University appeared to be in control with a 14-0 lead early in the fourth quarter. But Irvine, behind junior quarterback Allen Merritt, who came on in the third quarter, battled back.

The Vaqueros closed the gap to 14-13 when Tra’shon Young bounced off several tackles and scored on a 3-yard run with 54 seconds left in the game.

Since no overtime was going to be played, Irvine tried to win it, but Merritt’s pass fell incomplete.

“Down 14 and coming back like that, we thought the kids deserved a chance to go for the victory,” Henigan said.

University then recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

“I didn’t know how the guys would respond,” University coach Mark Cunningham said. “It was a really hard fought game and Irvine really came back in the end and their kids showed a lot of character and a lot of class.

“They really battled back and this ought to be a real interesting game in week 10.”

University was led by quarterback Elliott Martin, who was solid in his first varsity start at quarterback.

Martin completed 12 of 24 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown.

Martin helped the Trojans move out on top when he scored on a 1-yard TD run with 3:59 left in the third quarter.

University then extended its lead to 14-0 when Martin connected with Omar Cook on a 15-yard TD pass with 9:58 left in the game.

“That touchdown pass he threw as a thing of beauty,” Cunningham said.

But Irvine battled back, cutting the lead to 14-7, on a 34-yard TD run by Shane Whippo with 6:15 left in the contest.

Uni then drove to the Irvine 37.

Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com